Taliban Appoints New Head of State-Run Bakhtar News Agency

Mullah Hasan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Taliban administration, has appointed Mawlawi Ehsanullah Hessan as the new head of the state-run Bakhtar News Agency through an official decree. He officially began his duties at the agency on Sunday, 7 Saratan. Previously, Hedayatullah Hedayat held this position.

According to published information, Mawlawi Ehsanullah Hessan previously served as the chief of the office of the Minister of Information and Culture in the Taliban administration. Bakhtar News Agency, recognized as the official state media in Afghanistan, operates under the Ministry of Information and Culture and is responsible for publishing the government’s official news.

However, since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, media activities in the country have faced extensive restrictions. Journalists and media organizations have repeatedly complained about censorship, limited access to information, and direct pressures — a situation that has raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and citizens’ right to information.

The Taliban administration has not released any images from the ceremony introducing the new head of Bakhtar News Agency, providing only photos of his office desk and chairs to the media. This move comes in line with the administration’s Enforcement of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law, which bans the publication of images of living individuals.

Additionally, since the Taliban’s takeover, a large number of professional and experienced government employees have been dismissed from their positions, replaced mostly by individuals affiliated with the group, primarily with religious backgrounds. Many experts believe this trend has negatively impacted the quality of work in government institutions and official media outlets.